“Performance through
innovation has always been a Jaguar hallmark. From the
beginning, cars such as the C-Type and D-Type pioneered aluminum
construction, aerodynamic design, racing monocoques and disc
brakes. The C-X75 demonstrates that the company is still leading
the field in automotive design and technology.”

Dr Ralf Speth, Chief
Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover

The C-X75 concept is both a celebration of 75 years of iconic Jaguar
design and a look into the future of automotive technology. Designed
as a range-extended electric two-seater supercar, it explores the
outer limits of both performance and sustainability. With plug-in
capability the car can achieve a zero tailpipe emissions range of
110km (68 miles) – three times round Paris’s Péripherique – when
running under battery power alone, plus a potential top speed of
330kph (205mph) and blistering acceleration. The car demonstrates
that it is possible to retain Jaguar’s core values of performance,
design and luxury using technology that will make environmentally
responsible performance and electric vehicles a practical
proposition.

The aim was to produce not only the most innovative but also one of
the most beautiful Jaguars ever; one which hints at an exciting
evolution of the marque’s award-winning design language while paying
homage to some of its most admired cars of years gone by. Advanced
design features such as a ground-breaking propulsion system and
active aerodynamics allow for an elegantly simple fuselage section
that remains stable at very high speeds.

“The C-X75 is a tribute to the people who shaped the iconic Jaguars
that are revered to this day. By making it an innovative test-bed
for the technologies of tomorrow, it also ensures that our
reputation for engineering excellence will continue for another 75
years and beyond.”
Mike O’Driscoll, Managing Director, Jaguar Cars

The C-X75’s 580kW (778bhp) propulsion system combines powerful 145kW
(195bhp) electric motors at each wheel for outstanding performance.
At the center of the car sit state-of-the-art, mid-mounted micro
gas-turbines. These can either generate 140kW (188bhp) to charge the
batteries and extend the range of the car to a remarkable 900km (560
miles) – enough to drive from London to Berlin on a single tank – or
when in Track mode provide supplementary power directly to the
electric motors. The four electric motors provide torque-vectored,
all-wheel drive traction and grip, essential in a car that produces
580kW (778bhp) and 1600Nm (1180lb ft) of torque.

The car’s interior is equally impressive, with the driver and
passenger seated ahead of a sealed airbox that houses the micro
gas-turbines. The seats are fixed to the bulkhead as in a single-seater
racing car, and air to feed the turbines passes smoothly around them
via channels in the structure of the body. With the seats anchored
in place, the steering wheel, controls, main binnacle and pedal box
all adjust towards the driver.

Dramatic theater lighting is activated as the driver approaches the
car; phosphor blue electro-luminescent wire lights illuminate the
perimeter of the cabin and the turbines. When the car is started,
additional blue LED lighting gently floods the door and bulkhead
speaker cavities, highlighting the car’s lightweight construction.
Bespoke interior materials include cream and grey leathers, polished
and vapor-blasted aluminum and a soft-feel textured neoprene.

A new interface for the driver has also been created for the C-X75
using high-resolution TFT screens. Building on Jaguar’s 10-year
expertise in touchscreen technology, the Jaguar Co-Pilot display in
the center console supports the driver in extracting the full
potential of the C-X75 by seamlessly managing information.

The C-X75 – At a Glance

DESIGN – A celebration
of 75 years of beautiful, fast Jaguars which points the way to a new
design language

PERFORMANCE – 0-100kph (62mph) in 3.4 seconds, top speed of 330kph
(205mph) and 80-145kph (50-90mph) in just 2.3 seconds

PROPULSION SYSTEM – A Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (RE-EV) using
a unique combination of electric motors and micro gas-turbines to
increase its range to 900km (560 miles)

For 75 years, Jaguar has
been responsible for some of the most iconic road and racing car
designs ever seen. The roll call of names will be familiar to all:
XK120, C-Type, D-Type, XJ13, E-Type, XJ220. To that list can now be
added the C-X75, which celebrates three-quarters of a century of
beautiful, fast Jaguars by being the fastest and perhaps most
beautiful concept of them all.

Jaguar has an award-winning portfolio of designs in its current
range of XK, XF and XJ models and the C-X75 reinforces the marque’s
design-led approach to product development. Created under the
guidance of Design Director Ian Callum, the concept points the way
towards an even more emotive design language which combines
beautiful contemporary styling with world-class research and
engineering.

Aficionados will identify elements from Jaguars of the past in the
C-X75 but the intention was not to look back but forward. The
C-X75’s designers stayed true to the long-held Jaguar design
philosophy of natural, flowing lines and simple, elegant forms.
Where inspiration from the past was found was in the innovative
engineering and functional design elements of cars like the 1950s
C-Type and D-Type racers and unique 1966 XJ13 Le Mans prototype – a
car described by Callum as, “possibly the most beautiful Jaguar ever
made.”

Just as the XJ13 acted a test-bed for a new engine, the C-X75 offers
similarly positive and inspiring potential solutions to the
challenges posed by environmental concerns. Performance cars have
always aimed for efficiencies in terms of weight, agility and
dynamics, all of which also benefit economy. Using previously unseen
combinations of technology, the C-X75 supercar provides a glimpse
into the future of Jaguar and its commitment to producing beautiful,
fast cars powered by sustainable means.

Exterior Design

“The C-X75 is everything
a Jaguar should be. It possesses remarkable poise and grace yet at
the same time has the excitement and potency of a true supercar. You
could argue this is as close to a pure art form as a concept car can
get and we believe it is a worthy homage to 75 years of iconic
Jaguar design.”
Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars

Finished in Jetstream Silver, the C-X75’s beautiful proportions,
sculpted lines and powerful stance have been created, in the words
of Julian Thomson, Assistant Design Director and head of the Jaguar
Advanced Design Studio, to ”pull at the same emotional heartstrings
as classic Jaguars such as the D-Type and XJ13 racers.”

The C-X75 borrows more than simply elegant looks from previous
classic designs, however, for those cars were equally respected for
the purity of their engineering. C-X75 has been created to indicate
the future for luxury carmakers such as Jaguar. It shows that it is
possible to retain core brand values while offering zero emissions
motoring for much of the time, as well as range-extending
technologies that will make electric vehicles significantly more
practical.

Aerodynamic Purity

Shorter, slimmer and
lower than the current crop of supercars, its exterior design is
about pure performance with a simple central fuselage surrounded by
prominent wheelarches. Thanks to the packaging efficiencies provided
by the absence of a conventional piston engine, the car’s designers
had maximum freedom in placing the mechanical components and
creating the most elegant engineering package available.
Consequently the car has the most perfect proportions and sense of
balance possible with a compact cabin placed centrally between the
dramatic wheel arches. The lines of the supercar are purposeful and
agile, suggesting a sense of movement and poise.

Aerodynamics are a key factor in designing a supercar capable of
accelerating to speeds in excess of 320kph (200mph). Yet, as Thomson
explains, the designers weren’t prepared to sacrifice the car’s
beauty when it came to creating downforce and stability at high
speeds:

“Because we want this to be one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever,
we took a much more elegant approach to the C-X75’s aerodynamics and
exploited the benefits of having an electrically-powered drivetrain.”

Using an underbody Venturi and directional exhaust gas control kept
the car as sleek, compact and low as possible while still generating
immense amounts of grip and downforce. Indeed, the movement of air
itself was one of the principle drivers behind many of the design
cues that were incorporated into the bodywork. Principal designer
Matt Beavan reveals how the airflow into the turbines helped to
shape the surfaces of the car itself:

“We wanted to emphasize how the air makes its way not just over the
car but is also channeled into the rear airbox. When operating at
80,000rpm, each gas-turbine requires 25,000 liters of air a minute
which means we need a series of carefully honed intakes.”

The two beautifully sculpted sill-mounted aluminum intakes have a
striking two-tone finish, with polished inner surfaces emphasizing
their functionality. Above them sit two further intakes that feed
cold air to a separate turbine cooling system.

The turbine theme is also echoed in the stunning alloy wheels which
appear to have been cut from a single block of aluminum with a spoke
design inspired by the fan blades of the engines themselves. The
tires have been custom-made by Pirelli with an asymmetric tread
pattern and bold green F1-style wear indicator running the
circumference of the tire.

Forward-hinged doors are opened using Jaguar Sense touch technology,
raising outwards and upwards for excellent cabin access. To maintain
the purity of the side profile, the designers replaced conventional
door mirrors with cameras housed in a tailfin which is a
miniaturized echo of that of the D-Type – images are displayed on
screens inside the cabin. Behind the doors, fuel fillers sit either
side of the cockpit – reminiscent of the twin-tank system on the
original XJ6 – which on the C-X75 access respectively the fuel tank
for the turbines and the plug-in battery charging point.

The eye is then drawn towards the sealed compartment which houses
the twin micro gas-turbines and the beautiful structural bracing
that supports them. Exposed through the rear window – much like with
the XJ13 – the remarkable turbines are showcased by their elegant
aluminum housing and Texalium woven fabric lining the engine bay.

The compact packaging of the turbines allowed the designers further
freedom at the rear of the car, which is shaped like the trailing
edge of an aircraft wing. This is both functional – incorporating
the Venturi aerofoil – and beautiful with a sharp swage line and
dramatic, slim full-LED rear lights.

Interior

Jaguar has a long
tradition of using the finest materials to create a cosseting and
luxurious cabin that allows the driver to concentrate on the
experience of driving, culminating in the award-winning interior of
the current XJ. With the C-X75, Jaguar has blended beautiful
leathers with innovative materials and finishes to create an
elegantly tailored and driver-focused cabin that is defined and
inspired by the technology that powers this sustainable supercar.

The twin micro-turbines provided great inspiration when designing
the interior architecture. The turbines themselves require vast
amounts of air and driver and passenger are placed in the calm
centre of this storm. The soft shapes and surface changes of the
cabin reflect the movement of air, unseen and unheard by those
inside, within the channels surrounding it.

The seats are fixed into the rear bulkhead that forms part of the
airbox feeding the turbines, integrating driver and passenger not
only into the structure but also the function of the car. A
beautifully formed aluminum spar directs air into the turbines which
are supported by spiral-shaped cast brackets that appear to flow
directly from the seats’ headrests.

Driver-focused cabin

While Jaguar cabins have
always been calm, comfortable sanctuaries for passengers, their
focus has remained centered on the driver. The C-X75 takes this
commitment to its logical conclusion by placing the driver as close
as possible to the centre of the car. As a result the cabin tailors
itself perfectly and uncompromisingly to the driver. A rocker switch
on the steering wheel brings the wheel and instrument panel towards
the driver, revealing a beautifully polished aluminum surround to
the binnacle. The pedal box is likewise fully adjustable to create
the perfect driving position.

The sense of occasion and driver experience engendered by the C-X75
is unsurpassed. Electro-luminescent micro-wires and LEDs use vibrant
light to create two very different environments within the cockpit,
making it feel incredibly dramatic and highlighting the car’s width.
As the driver approaches the car, a bright ring of phosphor blue
wire lighting outlines the extreme plan shape of the car by leading
the eye around the monocoque tub and into the turbine chamber.

When the driver enters, the electro-luminescent wire illumination is
replaced by LEDs emitting a phosphor blue light that dims as the
occupants settle themselves into the cockpit. This gentle
illumination from inside the doors and bulkhead cavities creates a
translucency inspired by lightweight aircraft structures and exposes
the Bowers & Wilkins nano-speaker panels behind the micromesh.
Additional LEDs behind the dashboard and underneath the turbines
make both installations appear to ‘float’ inside the structure of
the car.

The car is started using a switch mounted in the aircraft-inspired
overhead control panel. Twin needles indicating turbine
functionality sweep dramatically around the edge of the main dials
and back to rest.

When driven in Track mode the cabin changes character once again –
taking inspiration from fighter aircraft in combat mode. The Jaguar
Co-Pilot touchscreen system switches to stealth and all ambient
cabin lighting fades to minimize driver distraction. The
electro-luminescent wire now forms blades of blue light which
outline the driver’s seat and controls.

The lighting however is not the only feature which lends a sense of
theatre and uniqueness to the experience of piloting the C-X75. The
gear-selector is modeled on a fighter jet’s throttle control and
includes a manual override for the turbines, allowing them to run
continuously for maximum charge.

Unique Materials

A unique, sustainable
performance supercar, the C-X75 utilizes materials that reflect its
design and engineering ideals. A luxurious cream Ceramic
semi-aniline leather was chosen for the dashboard to complement the
purity of the polished aluminum. In contrast, a more technical
full-aniline Storm Grey leather was used on the seats. The leathers
themselves have their own sustainability story, having been sourced
from Scottish company Bridge of Weir, one of the most modern and
environmentally efficient leather producers in the world.

To highlight the main driver interfaces, the instrument binnacle,
gear selector and certain areas of the steering wheel are covered in
a soft-feel textured neoprene. This malleable material allowed the
designers to sculpt soft, flowing surfaces that encase the technical
hardware. The leading edges of the instrument binnacle have a satin
smooth finish while further back the material is covered in grains
subtly shaped like the traditional Jaguar ‘lozenge’ logo.

Reflecting the polished working surfaces on the exterior of the car,
the air-conditioning vents also feature a dual finish although this
time it is reversed, with mirror-finished external surfaces and
vapor-blasted matt interior. Inside the vents can be found an
aluminum honeycomb structure similar to that used in aircraft
construction.

Jaguar C-X75 Innovation - At a
Glance

PERFORMANCE – 0-100kph
(62mph) in 3.4 seconds, a top speed of 330kph (205mph) and 80-145kph
(50-90mph) in just 2.3 seconds

EFFICIENCY – Explores the outer limits of Range-Extended Electric
Vehicle (RE-EV) technology with CO2 emissions of just 28g/km and a
range of 900km (560 miles)

ZERO EMISSIONS – Fully charging the C-X75 from a domestic power
supply takes six hours and allows the car to run with zero tailpipe
emissions in electric-only mode for 110km (68 miles)

PROPULSION SYSTEM – 2 x 70kW (94bhp) micro gas-turbines and the
plug-in Lithium-ion batteries provide power to four independent
electric motors each rated at 145kW (195bhp) and 400Nm (295lb ft) of
torque. These in turn provide drive to all four wheels

ACTIVE AERODYNAMICS – An underbody Venturi system incorporates a
movable aerofoil and directional control of the exhaust gases to
provide maximum downforce without using spoilers

DRIVING POSITION – An electrically adjustable instrument binnacle,
steering wheel and pedal box ensures the car is perfectly tailored
to the driver

HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE – Data from the car’s complex systems are
shown on three information screens and can be transferred and
filtered between displays as needed

Jaguar C-X75 - Innovation

“This evocative showcase
of 75 years of performance heritage, the C-X75 also demonstrates
Jaguar’s commitment to developing cutting-edge engineering solutions
to the challenges facing future automotive development. The supercar
shows that Jaguar will continue to build beautiful, fast cars that
will generate their performance in a sustainable manner.”
Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar Cars

The Jaguar C-X75 is a high-performance demonstration for future
technology and innovation. The 330kph (205mph) four-wheel drive
supercar is capable of reaching 100kph (62mph) from rest in 3.4
seconds with zero tailpipe emissions during urban use. Even in
range-extending mode it emits just 28 grams of CO2 per kilometer
thanks to its ultra-efficient micro gas-turbines which provide
charge to four 145kW (195bhp) electric motors.

A six-hour plug-in charge of the Lithium-ion batteries allows an
electric-only range of 110km (68 miles). However, as a
Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (RE-EV), the C-X75 removes the range
anxiety that currently hinders the mainstream adoption of electric
vehicles. The innovative twin turbines can either charge the car’s
batteries on-the-fly, allowing the supercar to travel 900km (560
miles) between fill-ups or, in Track mode, automatically provide
supplementary power directly to the electric motors to allow the car
to top 330kph (205mph).

In creating the C-X75, Jaguar, under the aegis of the Government
sponsored Technology Strategy Board (TSB), has worked closely with
other British firms, each of which is at the forefront of its field.
The TSB is a public body that brings together businesses in a range
of programs to drive innovation with an emphasis on sustainability.
Jaguar’s partners in this project are Bladon Jets, makers of the
micro gas-turbines, and SR Drives who supply the switched reluctance
generators.

The decision to use technology originally designed for aeronautical
applications was an obvious one given both Britain’s and Jaguar’s
heritage in this area. Born in Coventry, a short distance from the
site of what would become the Jaguar’s historic Browns Lane factory,
Sir Frank Whittle is credited with developing the gas-turbine jet
engine. It is Whittle’s concept that has been refined by supplier
Bladon Jets into the compact, efficient powerplant used by Jaguar in
the C-X75.

Jaguar itself has an aeronautical heritage, a number of great
Jaguars of the past – C-Type, D-Type and E-Type – were shaped by
aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer. Aircraft-inspired technology also led
to the development of the aluminum spaceframe chassis around which
those early Le Mans-winning Jaguars were constructed; the same
technique used today in the C-X75.

For the C-X75 Bowers & Wilkins, the supplier of exclusive premium
audio systems for Jaguar, has explored future audio technologies to
develop a product that delivers unrivalled sound quality while
making extremely low power demands.

Advanced aluminum lightweight
construction

Jaguar’s expertise in
the use of aluminum stretches back more than 50 years to the first
XK120s, through the lightweight E-Types and pioneering X350 to the
XK and all-new 2010 XJ. It was with this latter creation that Jaguar
fully realized the lightweight metal’s benefits to performance,
agility, economy and sustainability in a luxury car, creating a lead
its rivals have yet to close.

The C-X75 naturally follows the same construction techniques with an
extruded and bonded aerospace-inspired aluminum chassis clad in
panels of the same material, making it significantly lighter than
current supercars. Not only does this save weight, crucial in a car
with an extreme performance envelope, but aluminum is one of the
most easily recyclable metals available, boosting the C-X75’s
sustainability as well as its speed. As with the current XJ, up to
50 percent of the supercar’s structure is made from recycled
aluminum.

Active Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics have always
played a large part in Jaguar design with legendary designer Malcolm
Sayer elevating it into an art form in cars such as the XJ13, the
prototype from which the C-X75 draws inspiration.

Today Jaguar is aiming to reduce the drag coefficient of its future
models in order to increase fuel efficiency. The C-X75 presented the
additional challenge of managing the high volume of air required by
the turbines. To achieve this active aerodynamics have been utilized
for the first time on a Jaguar.

By opening the front grille and brake cooling vents only when
necessary, Jaguar has increased the design’s aerodynamic efficiency
dramatically. At the rear corners of the car vertical control
surfaces automatically engage at higher speeds to direct airflow aft
of the rear wheels for increased stability and efficiency.

The carbon-fiber rear diffuser, a crucial element in guiding airflow
under the car and creating downforce includes an active aerofoil,
which is lowered automatically as speed increases. Vanes in the
exhaust ports then alter the directional flow of the gases to
further increase the effectiveness of the Venturi tunnel.

Propulsion System

Jaguar has already made
a sizeable commitment to developing future generations of cars that
minimize their impact on the environment. Jaguar is aiming to reduce
its carbon dioxide emissions by a quarter over the next five years
and as a business £800m is being invested in research into
innovative solutions to forthcoming sustainability challenges.

The C-X75 is capable of running in purely electric, zero tailpipe
emissions mode for 110km (68 miles) on a six-hour domestic plug-in
charge. However, unlike a conventional electric vehicle, the
enjoyment of this supercar won’t end there. The innovative,
lightweight micro gas-turbines are capable of very quickly and
efficiently recharging the Lithium-ion batteries, giving the car a
theoretical range of 900km (560 miles) and can also automatically
provide supplementary power directly to the motors when in Track
mode.

This remarkable range-extension system is a result of Jaguar’s
research engineers adopting a clean-sheet approach to the question
of powering the supercars of the future. The C-X75 turns to the very
latest evolution of a pioneering piece of British technology: the
gas turbine.

British engineering firm Bladon Jets achieved a recent breakthrough
in producing the multi-stage axial flow compressors – the technology
used on all large gas turbines – on a miniaturized scale and to very
high tolerances. This increased the compression and efficiency of
micro gas-turbines to the point at which they can be viewed as a
realistic power source. Each of the micro gas-turbines weighs just
35kg and produces 70kW of power at a constant 80,000rpm.

Because the exhaust gases form part of the active aerodynamic
package, Jaguar has utilized a specialized zirconia-molybdenum
coating. This advanced heat-resistant coating is regularly used in
Formula One cars and is applied in a plasma spray to the
carbon-fiber diffuser to protect it from the exhaust gases.

Turbines offer a number of advantages over a reciprocating piston
engine when powering range-extending generators. With fewer moving
parts and air bearings, turbines do not need oil lubrication or
water-cooling systems, all of which offers considerable
weight-saving benefits. They can also be run on a range of fuels
including diesel, biofuels, compressed natural gas and liquid
petroleum gas.

Turbines reach their optimum operating speed and temperature in
seconds and so can be used in short bursts to top up the batteries
without compromising fuel consumption or life-cycle. Coupled to two
switched reluctance generators supplied by SR Drives, the turbines
operate either in sequence or together, depending on energy needs,
to swiftly and efficiently charge the batteries – or provide power
directly to the electric motors – as dictated by the propulsion
system supervisory system.

Battery technology is currently the greatest limiting factor in the
development of high-performance electric vehicles with a realistic
range. Jaguar’s engineers are currently carrying out research with
leading battery suppliers into the next generation of power cells in
order to find the best compromise between energy and power
densities. The batteries used in the C-X75 are of a state-of-the-art
composition which offers significant benefits in terms of weight,
lifecycle, energy density and safety.

Power and Control

The energy created by
the turbines and stored in the batteries is transmitted to the road
using four independent electric motors. Using individual motors has
benefits in terms of weight saving and distribution, packaging and
efficiency. Each motor weighs just 50kg but produces 145kW (195bhp)
of power and an astonishing combined total torque output of 1600Nm
(1180lb ft).

Because each wheel is driven by its own electric motor, the C-X75 is
four-wheel drive – with all the traction, grip and safety benefits
that entails – without the weight disadvantages of a purely
mechanical set-up. Inherent in this drivetrain is the ability to
independently vector torque to each wheel across the full speed
range. This offers potential benefits in terms of stability and
control, creating an infinitely and instantaneously adjustable
traction and stability control system.

Electric motors also produce maximum torque from almost zero rpm,
making the traditional power curve a thing of the past. In fact,
such is the C-X75’s power that Jaguar’s engineers had to
artificially limit the torque available from rest in order to
improve the driveability of the car. The performance available in
the mid-range is truly startling. The C-X75 will accelerate from
80-145kph (50-90mph) in just 2.3 seconds. The quarter-mile sprint
takes 10.3 seconds at a terminal velocity of 251kph (156mph) and
acceleration peaks at 0.88G.

Such astounding performance requires equally impressive braking.
Jaguar already has a system proven to be up to the task. The C-X75
is fitted with the brakes used on the supercharged XFR which in 2009
became the fastest Jaguar ever, achieving 363kph (226mph) at the
Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. In this application, regenerative
braking technology on all four wheels helps recharge the batteries
during driving. The 380mm internally ventilated front discs and
345mm rears are covered by polished alloy wheels of 21 and 22 inches
respectively.

Interior Innovation

The driver-focused
interior of the C-X75 is a statement of intent from Jaguar, using
cutting-edge technology that is seamlessly integrated into the car
in order to enhance the driving experience. In creating the C-X75,
Jaguar has forged relationships with other British companies that
share its philosophy of engineering and design purity.

Fingertip Information Control

As on the new XJ,
traditional analogue instruments have been replaced with
high-resolution TFT-LCD technology for all three Human-Machine
Interfaces (HMI) within the cockpit.

The main Driver Information screen is housed within the instrument
binnacle. Needles float on the periphery of the twin cowls and sweep
round the outer edge to display the status and rpm of the two
turbines. The amount of information that can be displayed required a
new graphic interface. The design team combined designs from
instrumentation in the new XJ saloon with those from fighter
aircraft to create virtual 3D ‘gimbals’ around which the gauges wrap
and rotate to provide status updates.

Information on speed, acceleration, power production, power usage
and active aerodynamic status is selected using rocker action
paddles mounted on the steering wheel, giving the driver fingertip
control over all the complex systems of the car.

A secondary ‘Jaguar Co-Pilot’ touchscreen in the centre of the
dashboard is angled towards the driver and performs a predictive
function, suppressing superfluous information and allowing the
driver to concentrate on the task in hand. As its name suggests,
this seamlessly manages the relationship between car and driver. By
syncing with technology such as smart-phone calendars for instance,
it will recognize that the driver is due to attend a track session
at Le Mans and will not only offer to calculate a route but also
suggest activating high-performance modes once on the circuit
itself. Once accepted by the driver, this information wipes
seamlessly to the main binnacle display.

The two screens operate
in three modes:

Standard Mode –
The left-hand dial displays speed, navigation information is shown
in the centre with range and time in the right-hand dial. The
Co-Pilot screen is used for economy and emissions data.

Track Mode – The right-hand dial changes to display available
power while the needles surrounding the binnacle show the turbine
status. The Co-Pilot screen changes to display performance and lap
time data.

The need for the
information screens to be able to display information with timeless
clarity led to co-operation with Bremont, an independent British
company creating beautiful mechanical watches that are hand
assembled at their dedicated atelier in Switzerland. Its aviation
inspired designs and commitment to engineering excellence has seen
the company quickly establish itself in the world of authentic
luxury.

Jaguar designers took styling cues from the Bremont MB2 watch when
creating the graphics for the time related elements of the HMI. The
result is a perfect combination of traditional Jaguar warmth and
absolute purity and precision.

Bremont also produced a unique clock, which can be mounted in a
turbine-inspired holder in the centre console. The clock’s mechanism
uses the acceleration and braking forces of the car to keep it
wound.

The relationship with Bremont inspired another element of the
interior design. The company produces a watch, the MB1, exclusively
for those who have had their lives saved by the Martin-Baker ejector
seat. To date this British-developed safety system has saved more
than 7000 people. In recognition of this, the interior door release
handles of the C-X75 are crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum and
mounted in the base of the seat, in the same position as a fighter
jet ejector lever.

Surround Sound

Jaguar tasked its
existing in-car entertainment partner, audio experts Bowers &
Wilkins, with creating a revolutionary new sound system that reveals
how audio technologies are set to evolve.

The innovative result was a system that uses dozens of tiny moving
coil transducers arrayed in an ultra-thin honeycomb pattern that
allows them to line the doors and rear bulkhead. The housings,
magnets and coils are built up by the nanometer and faced in B&W’s
own polycrystalline diamond diaphragm material, the finest
available. The array of tiny speakers literally surrounds the driver
and passenger with a powerful and all-enveloping sound but their
small size also means the power draw of the system is kept very low.

This system also allowed the development of active sound cancelling
technology, isolating the cabin from the noise produced by the
turbines and creating a peaceful, luxurious cocoon allowing the
driver to focus on the enjoyment inherent in driving a Jaguar.
Similar technology could be used to cancel any noise broadcast to
the outside world by the turbine operation.